The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus & the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Social Studies      World History     World Geography & Cultures

Even Persia, Greece's worst enemy, was so influenced by Greek and Egyptian culture that one Persian governor, Mausolus, designed, and was buried, in a building inspired by both Greek and Egyptian precedents. Located in what is today modern Turkey, it was so influential that all such structures are now called mausoleums.

The largest Classical marble temple at Ephesus in Asia Minor was a huge, yet beautifully proportioned, center of worship for the pagan people of its time. The Greek builders were inspired by monumental Egyptian architecture, and even adapted and improved some of their Egyptian technologies.

School Library Journal -  July 2009 Review

This production briefly introduces two of the wonders of the ancient world, once part of the ancient Persian empire, but now in Turkey.  The first segment examines the huge structure begun by King Mausolus of Halicarnassus (hence the word "mausoleum" for elaborate burial structures), and the second part explores the massive marble Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.  Both segments use maps to help viewers locate where the structures were built and then provide some limited background about the societies and rulrs who started their construction.  The architects who designed the massive buildings are identified, and the way in which Egyptian and other ancient architecture influenced their designs are described.  Also explained are the innovative architectural and construction techniques used to build the huge structures and how they created lasting change in architecture.  Visuals include contemporary video of ruins, re-enactment footage of building methods, and well-executed computer generated animated graphics that show three dimensional blueprints of architectural designs, construction techniques, and artistic renderings of the buildings as they would have looked when they were in use.  Architectural and historical terms are defined in onscreen graphics.  this film could be used in both history and art classes, making it a good choice for secondary school collections.